European Union foreign ministers discussed ties with association-seeking Ukraine and with Belarus as they met for the second day of an informal meeting in northern Poland.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told reporters that the bloc is concerned by the recent arrest of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is now the opposition leader.

"Not surprisingly, we are following the case of Yulia Tymoshenko with great concern," Ashton said. "We have made that clear to Ukraine. We want to continue to negotiate with Ukraine on all the agreements that we are seeking to do. We are also very conscious of the political situation."

Turning to Belarus, she said EU policy toward the regime of President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and its treatment of dissidents is also under consideration.